Gasholder of the waterless type



Nov. 10, 1936. w. PECHSTEIN 2,060,591

GASHOLDER OF THE WATERLESS TYPE Filed Aug. 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 In van for 14/6117 22 Ju e/M NOV. 10, 1936. w, PECHSTEIN 2,060,591

GASHOLDER OF THE WATERLESS TYPE Filed Aug. 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 flu/en fa r; VCY ZZLEI' Psalm Ze '7 Nov. 10, 1936. w. PECHSTEIN Filed Aug. 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 '0 6.6 I, I W x: 0 M 0% A 2% 0:0 0% A M u 0 m 0 W0 0 We 0;

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GASHOLDER OF THE WATERLESS TYPE Filed Aug. 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ewen/0r: We: ZZ e F Pea/Ls Z9172 Aftokfley Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Walter Pechstein, Dortmund, Germany, assignor to the firm Aug. Klonne, Dortmund, Germany Application August 24, 1934, Serial No. 741,340

- In Germany June 9, 1934 9 Claims.

My invention relates to gasholders of the waterless type comprising a piston-like closure member axially movable therein and sealing means interposed between said closure and the inner wall of the holder. In practice gas-holders ofthis kind are always constructed so that there is a closed chamber above the piston-like closure member or plunger and gas leaking past the plunger forms with air an explosive mixture in this chamber unless adequate provision is made for ventilation.

There have been proposals for dispensing with the roof which forms the top of this chamber, but it was hitherto not found practicable to adopt these proposals, because omission of the roof involved excessive exposure of the sealing means to atmospheric influences, and in cold weather deposits of rain and snow are liable to freeze on the exposed inside wall of the holder, preventing upward movement of the plunger.

According to my invention there is substituted for the ordinary roof a system of vertical or inclined baflles, whereby rain, snow or hail, generally falling aslant, is caused to descend approximately vertically after passing the bailies, so that it is kept clear of the wall and falls in the main upon the central part of the plunger, from which it can be removed in known manner by syphoning. The top of the plunger may with advantage be dished, so that the water gravitates towards the centre, whence it can be removed to the interior of the holder by means of a single syphon, not shown. With this arrangement there is no risk of the plunger becoming askew.

The baffles are made of such width (from top edge to bottom edge) as may be required to deflect the rain from the holder wall, and there is ample clearance between them to prevent the formation of an explosive mixture.

Numerous ways of arranging the bafiles are possible. A good method is to make them form cells, which may be square, rhomboid, hexagonal, trinagular or circular. In some cases a simple arrangement of concentric rings may be adequate.

The system of baflles may be convex, concave or horizontal. The baflles may be of comparatively light construction, as they are not subjected to any particular stress.

Examples are shown in the annexed drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a gas holder with a roof according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, showing two somewhat different constructions of the roof.

Figs. 3-6 are plan views showing four modified constructions of the roof.

Figs. '7 and 8 are vertical sections showin other examples.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the gas holder or tank casing 1 has therein a dished plunger or pistonlike closure member 2 with a cylindrical skirt 3 of comparatively considerable length. A framework 4 surrounds the skirt, and is fixed to the same, carrying the rollers 5 and the packing ring 6, which preferably bears elastically against the wall of the holder. A circular platform 1 is fixed between the skirt 3 and the packing ring 6. Workmen attending to the packing and rollers can walk on this platform. The platform may also be constructed to form a ballast carrier.

The roof consists of a convexo-concave system of circular baflies 8, with the concave side facing upwards. The baffles are inwardly inclined from top to bottom, the angle of inclination increasing from the central part of the roof towards the rim. On the other hand, the distance between the baflles decreases from the centre towards the rim. At the rim there is a cover 9, downwardly inclined towards the circumference.

Fig. 2 shows two modifications in which the roof is flat. In the'modiflcation shown on the left hand side the bafiles are vertical, in that shown on the right they are inclined as in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3-6 illustrate various forms of construction in which the bafiles form cells. Fig. 3 shows a system of circular and radial baffles. Fig. 5 shows a form of lattice work, forming parallelograms.

Figs. 4 and 6 show squares and hexagons respectively. It will be understood that various other arrangements may be adopted.

Fig. '7 shows a construction in which the roof is concavo-convex, with the convex side facing upwards. This has the advantage of securing an increased flow of air through the upper part of the holder. As indicated by arrows at X, wind striking the roof on one side is deflected downwards by the bafiles, and passes out on the other side, as indicated by arrows at Y. The arrows Z in this figure indicate a fall of rain or snow, and it will be clear that the b'aiiles (whether disposed as shown in this figure or in any of the other ways described) to a large extent prevent the rain from reaching the inside wall surface of the holder.

Fig. 8 shows a modification in which a ventilating shaft I surrounds the system of bames within the circumference of the cover 9. This shaft Ill prevents the accumulation of an explosive mixture under the cover 9 in the room II. The height and diameter of the shaft are so proportioned that rain falling at the most acute angle which may be expected to occur will be deflected from the wall of the holder by the shaft.

I claim: 4

1. A gasholder of the waterless type, compris ing a tank casing, a piston-like closure member movable in said tank casing, sealing means interposed between said closure and the inner wall of the casing, a ring-shaped inwardly projecting cover arranged on the upper end of the casing, and a plurality of baflles spaced apart and arranged in the non-covered opening adjacent the ring-shaped cover and adapted to deflect rain, hail and snow from the inside surface of the casing wall and the sealing means.

2. A gasholder of the waterless type, comprising a tank casing, a piston-like closure member movable in said tank casing, sealing means interposed between said closure and the inner wall of the casing, a ring-shaped inwardly projecting cover arranged on the upper end of the casing, and a plurality of vertical baiiles spaced apart and arranged in the non-covered opening adjacent the ring-shaped cover and adapted to deflect rain, hail and snow from the inside surface of the casing wall and the sealing means.

3. A gasholder of the waterless type comprising a tank casing, a piston-like closure member movable in said tank casing, sealing means interposed between said closure and the inner wall of the casing, a ring-shaped inwardly projecting cover arranged on the upper end of the casing, and a plurality of inwardly inclined baffles spaced apart and arranged in the non-covered opening adjacent the ring-shaped cover and adapted to deflect rain, hall and snow from the inside surface of the casing wall and the sealing means.

4. A gasholder of the waterless type, comprising a tank casing, a piston-like closure member movable in said tank casing, sealing means interposed between said closure and the inner wall of the casing, a ring-shaped inwaruly projecting cover arranged on the upper end of the casing, and a plurality of baflies forming cells and arranged in the non-covered opening adjacent the ring-shaped cover and adapted to deflect rain, hall and snow from the inside surface of the casing wall and the sealing means.

5. A gasholder of the waterless type, comprising a tank casing, a piston-like closure member movable in said tank casing, sealing means interposed between said closure and the inner wall of the casing, a ring-shaped inwardly projecting cover arranged on the upper end of the casing, and a plurality of bailies forming concentric rings and arranged in the non-covered opening adjacent the ring-shaped cover and adapted to deflect rain, hall and snow from the inside surface of the casing wall and the sealing means.

6. A gasholder of the waterless type, comprising a tank casing, a piston-like closure member movable in said tank casing, sealing means interposed between said closure and the inner wall of the casing, -a ring-shaped inwardly projecting cover arranged on the upper end of the casing, and a plurality of bailles spaced apart and arranged in concave form in the non-covered opening adjacent the ring-shaped cover and adapted to deflect rain, hall and snow from the inside surface of the casing wall and the sealing means.

7. A gasholder of the waterless type, comprising a tank casing, a piston-like closure member movable in said tank casing, sealing means interposed between said closure and the inner wall of the casing, a ring-shaped inwardly projecting cover arranged on the upper end of the casing, and a plurality of bailles spaced apart and arranged in convex form in the non-covered opening adjacent the ring-shaped cover and adapted to deflect rain, hall and snow from the inside surface of the casing wall and the sealing means.

8. A gasholder according to claim 1, in which the ring-shaped cover is provided with a ventilating shaft surrounding the baflles.

9. A gasholder according to claim 5, in which the spaces between the rings decrease in width from the center towards the rim.

WALTER PECHSTEIN. 

